The 25-year-old is set to leave the Bernabeu in the summer after growing frustrated with the lack of opportunities since his €32.2m move from Real Sociedad in 2013. The defensive midfielder has only started seven games in La Liga this season, and made a further sixteen appearances from the substitutes’ bench. It is unlikely that things will change in the near future either with the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Isco ahead in the pecking order.

According to the Daily Mirror, Illarramendi would like to come to the Premier League rather than stay in Spain, and Anfield is his preferred destination. The Echo report that Arsenal are also interested, given their need for a defensive midfielder. Fortunately, given our position in the table, immediate Champions League football is not a requirement of his next club, reckons the report.

With Steven Gerrard soon departing, the Spaniard would offer Brendan Rodgers more options in the middle of the park, and with continental experience under his belt, he would surely be an extremely useful player to have to help us get back into the top four, despite not possessing anywhere near the magic of our legendary skipper.